Clovers Fall Shy Of Win In Home Opener Against Visiting Vikings

Two Scores, 105 Yards From Gray Unable To Match W. Vigo Offense

by Michael Stanley Staff Writer

Cloverdale senior running back Dillin Gray runs past a wouldbe tackler during a home contest last season against Turkey Run. On Friday, Gray accounted for two of the Clovers' four touchdowns and 105 of 198 yards rushing in a 33-25 home loss against the visiting West Vigo Vikings. (SEW File Photo) The Cloverdale Clovers and head football coach Kyle Winkler were set on capturing their first victory of the young 2009 pigskin season at home Friday night against the Class 3A West Vigo Vikings. With a defensive stop inside the red zone with just a minute remaining, the Clovers looked poised to answer the call. However, the offensive spark for Cloverdale had trouble rekindling in a 33-25 home loss.

"We had too many turnovers, fumbles and an interception. We fumbled it way too many times in the first half; it was just that they had a really good nose tackle who crossed the line too quickly and caused a fumble with the quarterback running back exchange," Winkler said. "In the second half, a big turnover was when the play was over and they stripped the ball out of our player's arms and ran it in for a touchdown. That was like a dagger in the heart, but we still came back from that and scored after that one. We just didn't have enough time on the clock at the end of the game. We got another defensive stop in the red-zone area, then we had to go 80 yards in 50 seconds and just didn't have enough time."

Gray continued his hard work in the Clover backfield, making his way to the end zone on two separate occasions. At the end of the night, the senior tailback had tallied 105 yards on 18 rushing attempts. Sophomore Donavan Scisney also stayed consistent for Cloverdale, rushing for 79 yards on 15 carries.

"He was a workhorse for us again; he had just over 100 yards on about 18 carries, that is well over five yards per carry, which is what we'd like to average with him," Winkler noted. "We ran the ball really well, but when you have the ball and turn it over, you can't score as many times."

Cloverdale's passing game was minimal Friday evening with Jordan Hayden going 1-for-8 with one touchdown and all 60 of his yards passing on a single sideline lob to Trevor Lockwood with 9:44 left in the contest.

"I think we were maybe 1-for-11 on the night, so we really didn't try to pass it a whole lot," Winkler said. "Then we hit the nice one on the sideline to give us a score and get us back into the game near the end."

The Clover defense allowed 15 first downs by the Vikings, just two more than Cloverdale, while also giving up 218 yards rushing on 49 carries and 138 yards passing with one interception. The Clovers did, however, out tally West Vigo in return yards, 229 to 128, as a 62-yard punt return by junior Jeff Couse ended with a touchdown.

"It's coming together, there are a lot of things that we need to work out with kids, just minor technique of certain things you're supposed to do and not do," Winkler added. "One of them is to not let a guy behind you when you're playing a certain coverage. Our safeties let that happen to them several times and they turned into big plays, just fine tuning our assignments on the defensive front. But we have guys who are making plays and making tackles. I was really pleased we had a punt return for a touchdown. That's something you always try to prepare for, getting kids lined up and getting them to block a certain way in a certain area on the field, and it finally paid dividends this week with Jeff Couse taking one back to the house. But it took all 11 guys on the field to get that job done."

Cloverdale will be back at home Friday evening when the Clovers play host to West Central Conference foe Monrovia. In their first two contests of the season, the Bulldogs have tallied two victories, first tormenting Greencastle 50-0 in the season-opener and embarrassing Cascade at home, 55-0.

Last season, the Clovers were defeated at Monrovia in September, 30-0 and again in sectional play, 52- 7. Friday's contest has a scheduled 7 p.m. kick off. Cloverdale Youth League Football players will be recognized during halftime of the contest.

"In the last two years, Monrovia has run up and down the field on us," Winkler recalled. "They have a pretty simple offense, which makes it easier for them to run, because they just line up and go with it. They don't really pass a whole lot; they just give the ball to their main running back and wing backs, and go from there. They don't keep any secrets about what they're going to do. It's going to be a defensive struggle for us to hold them down. They've scored 105 points in two games, so our objective is to stay on offense as long as possible and get as many first downs as possible. On defense, we need to limit their big plays."